Cautiously, they stepped out of the Submarine.

Blue stared around her as a strange combination of disappointment and misery overcame her. This wasn't what she had expected at all.

The grass beneath her tatty shoes was wilted and grey; and even someone who knew nothing about plants could tell it was on the verge of dying. The sky was low and grey; the clouds loomed darkly overhead casting a huge menacing shadow across the land.

Finn, Roger and Emily stood gawping at the place that was usually so full of colour. The bright statues of positive phrases and words were either in ruin or non-existent. The equally vibrant people of Pepperland were nowhere to be seen.

"I have to say." Jeremy murmured. "It's rather grey."

"No kidding." Replied Roger, raising an eyebrow and looking around at his ruined home. "I vote we go and get those Meanies straight away."

Finn spoke, sounding much calmer than he felt. "We need to get ready first; and find out where Lord Indigo actually is, because he's the leader of the Meanies. I think if we defeat him, we can reclaim Pepperland."

Emily stood quietly next to them, slowly chewing a chocolate digestive and observing the dull landscape sullenly. An air of misery hung over the land.

"Well, what are we all waiting for?" Explained Jeremy, feigning cheerfulness. Even he was starting to feel the effects of the melancholy atmosphere; and couldn't even be bothered to think of something to rhyme with the word "for".

Blue couldn't understand her own feelings. As soon as she had left the Submarine, she had felt an overwhelming sense of misery overcome her. It was unexplained, she had nothing really to be sad about, but it was as though all her dreams, hopes and happiness had been drained away from her.

Looking around, she struggled to see what could possibly ever bring her any joy in this place. The flowers were wilting and dead and there wasn't another life form to be seen at all. Even the other's vibrant clothes looked strangely dull.

"Is this what Blue Meanies do?" She asked; and was shocked at how miserable she sounded.

"Yep." Said Finn, "They drain all colour, joy and music from anywhere. They detest it because it hurts them... they can't stand it."

Blue considered this as she watched the others stare dully into nothingness. "If they can't stand music." She said, "Shouldn't we make some?"

Roger looked at her sharply. "That's not half bad, that idea." The mood seemed to lift dramatically at the idea of music.

"What does everyone play?" Asked Finn excitedly. Blue shrugged, Emily looked awkwardly at the ground and Roger was the only one who named an instrument. "Guitar."

"Okay." Replied Finn. "Anyone else?"

"Umm..." Blue murmured "I guess I could do guitar as well... or drums"

"Okay. Blue you're on percussion; me, Roger and Emily will do the other stuff. Where do we find instruments?"

"I think that's where I come in! To leave me out would be a sin." Jeremy said excitedly. He pointed at a hill in the distance surrounded my thorns and covered in large blue hedges. "That's where you'll find your instruments! I..." He trailed off, realising he didn't know anything that rhymed with "instruments".

*

The dark clouds watched them as they made their way towards the hill. From a closer view, Blue could we there was some kind of building on top of it - apparently for storing instruments.

For some reason, somebody had built a fence around the base of the hill; and the only way in was through two enormous metal gates.

Blue pushed against one and found it was open. She laughed. "What's the point in having gates that you don't lock?"

Finn didn't reply and stared at the strange blue plants growing on the hill thoughtfully. They were very odd... he had lived his whole life in Pepperland and never seen anything like them. They must be something to do with the Meanies.

Meanies?

"Blue!" He whispered urgently, realising something. He grabbed her before she could go through the gate.

She stared at him, wide eyed. "What is it?"

"Shush!" Replied Roger, also realising what Finn had seen. Emily almost choked on her sandwich, confused at what was wrong. "Those aren't bushes... they're sleeping Meanies!"